Kid-friendly Taipei

Mention Taipei and more often than not, boisterous night markets, street food and bustling shopping districts come to mind.

“So what did the kids do while you were shopping and eating?” a family friend inquired when she heard we spent 10 days in Taipei last December with three kids ranging from two to nine years old. But anyone who claims that the cosmopolitan city is not an ideal holiday destination for children clearly hasn’t gone beyond its concrete spaces.

Surrounded by natural scenic landscape, Taipei is the perfect place to visit if you plan to pry the little ones from their iPads but still enjoy the comfort and convenience of modern amenities.

With the two-year-old comfortably strapped in a toddler carrier, we got around using the city’s efficient MRT train network that took us directly to most attractions. On other days, we ventured out of the city for day trips using a private taxi service.

EXPLORE A PARK IN THE CITY

After a seven-hour flight (we had a two-hour transit in Hong Kong), we decided to take things slow and easy on our first day, starting with Daan Forest Park.

Located in the Daan district of Taipei, the 26-hectare public park is a quiet respite right smack in the city centre. We took a breather while the kids burned off their boundless energy at the playground located at the far end of the park.

The park also features an ecological pond that is home to a variety of birds, turtles and fish. The toddler was especially delighted to witness a family of ducks waddling along the pond. We lucked out with the park’s resident squirrels that made a timely appearance during our afternoon jaunt.

SPOT THE UNUSUAL ROCK FORMATIONS AT YEHLIU GEO PARK

One of our favourite attractions outside Taipei was Yehliu Geo Park, about an hour’s drive from the city centre. Located along a cape that stretches around 1,700m, its unusual rocky sea-erosion landscape is one of the must-see natural attractions in Taiwan.

The children had fun taking turns to spot its iconic rock formations, such as the Queen’s Head and Fairy Shoe. Some areas are adjacent to steep cliffs and have uneven terrain, so the park may not be suitable for families with very young children.

When visiting the park, you should, of course, also forgo your strappy sandals and heels for sensible non-slip shoes.

SEE A WATERFALL, MAKE A WISH AT SHIFEN

As though our calorie-burning trek in Yehliu Geo Park wasn’t enough, we embarked on another one in Pingxi after lunch.

The quaint, former coal mining town is where you will find the 20m-tall Shifen Waterfall, which is a real visual treat. If you’re already huffing and puffing from all that walking, grab a train ticket and hop on the Pingxi Railway Line, originally used to transport coal.

Catch your breath while you enjoy a picturesque scenery of quaint countryside houses and farms.

WATCH THE SUN SET AT TAMSUI

A vacation in Taipei isn’t complete without a trip to the historic town of Tamsui, also known as Danshui to the Mandarin-speaking locals, located on the north coast. A 50-minute MRT ride from Taipei, the old town used to be a seaport and defence post.

Time this day trip in the later part of the afternoon so you can catch a glimpse and an Instagram-worthy shot of Tamsui’s amazing sunset views from the boardwalk.

There are plenty of quaint shops, restaurants, cafes, as well as roadside stalls hawking handicrafts, street snacks (giant barbecued squid and stinky tofu, anyone?), and traditional games to keep the entire family occupied for hours.

READY, SET, ACTION!

Set the kids — and your inner kid — loose at the Taipei Children’s Amusement Park. Located in the Shilin district, the recently revamped amusement centre features rides, such as flying swings, Ferris wheel, pirate ship, and tree house that operate on a pay-per-ride basis. There is also a playground with a sandpit for the little ones to play.

As a nursing mum, I loved the amusement park’s breastfeeding-friendly policy. There are spacious nursing rooms at the visitor centre, and you may request for sealable bags to store expressed breast milk in the refrigerators on site.

Want an even wilder amusement park experience?

Try the LeoFoo Village Theme Park outside of Taipei. Located in the Hsinchu County, which is a two-hour bus ride from the city centre, the LeoFoo Village Theme Park is both an amusement park and wild animal safari, where tigers and monkeys roam freely.

Tickets are priced at NT$999 (S$42) per adult and NT$699 per child.

The park is huge with four themed areas and petting zoo. Some of the rides were scary, even for the adults. Do download the park map in advance to better plan your day.

VISIT THE ZOO

Sitting on a whopping 165 ha of land, Taipei Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals from the Antarctic, temperate and tropical rainforests, as well as those indigenous to Taiwan, such as the Asiatic black bear, Chinese pangolin and otter. The entrance fee costs an affordable NT$60 for adults, while children and teens under the age of 18 enter for half the price.

If you’re travelling with little ones, arm yourself with kid-friendly survival essentials like raincoats, brollies and snacks. But leave your bulky stroller in the hotel. Like most large tourist attractions in the country, Taipei Zoo provides stroller rental.

While most people regard the resident giant pandas as the zoo’s highlight, we were bowled over by our first face-to-face encounter with the camels in the desert animal area instead. The big kids ooh-ed and ahh-ed over the extensive amphibian and reptile exhibits while the children’s zoo area, which features domestic animals like ducks, chickens, goats, donkeys, ponies, pigs, rabbits and even a water buffalo, was a hit with the toddler.

RIDE THE MAOKONG GONDOLA FOR A MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

From the Taipei Zoo train station, hop on the Maokong Gondola and take a cable car ride up into the mountains of Maokong, where you’ll be treated to breathtaking scenic views of Taipei city.

The gondola journey has four stations: Taipei Zoo, Taipei Zoo South, Zhinan Temple and its highest point, Maokong, that is located amidst tea plantations. This is where you should hop off for a spot of home-grown Taiwanese tea and local fare.

You can also learn about the tea production process at the Tea Promotion Centre, a 15-minute walk from Maokong station. Do keep the young ones warm, especially during the cooler seasons, as the temperature drops rapidly at the summit.